India Today High and Mighty Power List: Official top 10 choice officers

Topping the list of key officials, thus, is Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu, who would have a relatively long 14-month stint.

advertisement

Manu Pubby

November 13, 2014

ISSUE DATE: November 24, 2014

UPDATED: November 15, 2014 10:24 IST

Having assumed power with a clear majority, the political battle might be over for Narendra Modi but the governance challenge has only just begun. And given the policy paralysis the Government has inherited, it makes selection of officials in key positions that much more critical. Despite the absence of a strong political opposition, relations with the judiciary will be vital for the Government to drive Modi's agenda of rapid economic growth, a point the UPA realised towards the end of its tenure.

Topping the list of key officials, thus, is Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu, who would have a relatively long 14-month stint, followed by RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, critical to ensuring a turnaround on the economic front. While restoring investor confidence would be top priority, an unstable neighourhood and secutity situations in the region need a deft hand, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is Modi's main man to firm up a viable, long-term strategy.

It is clear that the key agenda driver will be the Prime Minister's Office, so no surprise that several of Modi's main bureaucrats are on this list: from P.K. Mishra, who takes a call on all important appointments, to A.K. Sharma, the man handling the economic ministries.

1. H.L. Dattu

HL Dattu

63, Chief Justice of India (New)

Legal Eagle

because he was sworn in in September this year for 14 months, an unusually long term for a chief justice. It gives him the chance to define the course of several crucial cases before the court.

because he has taken over at a time when an attempt is being made to rewrite the equation between state and judiciary with the judicial accountability bill.

because he is known to be extremely hardworking, often working 16 hours a day, and this ethic will be crucial in clearing the apex court's notorious backlog of cases.

Tune in

He is a connoisseur of Carnatic music.

Seeking support

"I seek the blessings of all citizens of India. May they give me the courage and highest stride."

2. Raghuram Rajan

Raghuram Rajan

51, RBI Governor (new)

Ace of base

because through tight monetary measures, he contained inflation, with consumer price inflation falling to an all-time low of 6.46 per cent and the wholesale price index easing to a five-year low of 2.38 per cent in September 2014.

because he successfully tackled India's currency crisis, rescuing the rupee from its historic low of 68.83 against the dollar in August 2013 to 61.7 as on November 7, 2014.

Top class

He won the Director's Gold Medal at IIT-Delhi and was a gold medallist at IIM-Ahmedabad. Was given the Central Bank Governor of the Year 2014 award by Euromoney magazine for stabilising the rupee.

Seeking support

"I seek the blessings of all citizens of India.May they give me the courage and highest stride."

Bouncing back

"I think over the course of this year, we will be solidly in the 5 per cent growth range and by next year we should be in the 6 per cent range."

3. Ajit Doval

Ajit Doval

69, National security adviser (new)

Sherlock in South Block

because the undisputed choice of the new Government for the key post of national security adviser has emerged as the intelligence tsar by gaining full control of the Intelligence Bureau.

because he has driven the political agenda in Jammu & Kashmir, where the BJP is looking at scaling up its presence, and is also providing inputs for BJP's strategy in West Bengal and Assam.

because his hardline approach towards Pakistan has been endorsed by the new Government, which has given him a free hand in pursuing it.

No fire sans smoke

A chain smoker, he is seldom seen without his cigarette holder.

4. P.K.Mishra

P.K.Mishra

65, Additional Principal Secretary (new)

The Task Manager

because he is considered to be Modi's most trusted senior bureaucrat and has been tasked with finding the right officer for the right job.

because he is an expert on agriculture and disaster management. because he handles all Appointments Committee of Cabinet issues.

Mr Mentor

Is said to be Modi's first tutor on Government processes.

Top Grouse

He is often mistaken for his namesake who has been a long-standing member of the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF). Many government officials engaged by the Modi Government are from VIF.

5. Ajit Seth

Ajit Seth

62,Cabinet Secretary (new)

Smooth Operator

because he is the only high-level babu to have made a seamless transition from the UPA to the current dispensation. This has perhaps been helped by the fact that he is from the UP cadre, which dominates the IAS.

because he was the first official who was instrumental in familiarising Prime Minister Modi with the inner workings of the central Government.

because he has been managing interactions with secretaries across all ministries. Is the key pointman for secretaries interacting with the PMO.

His own man

Maintains a very low profile, with very few people knowing him outside the Government.

6. A.K. Sharma

AK SHarma

52, Joint Secretary, PMO (new)

Hotline Central

because he handles all key economic ministries from the PMO besides the linked issues of infrastructure, energy and environment.

because he is shaping Modi's vision on the economic front, particularly infrastructure development. He gives direct instructions on these issues to ministers. His word is that of the PM's and is never questioned.

because he is in charge of the PM's thrust areas, from skill development to climate change.

Close ties

Modi's most trusted bureaucrat, he understands the PM's mind like no one else.

7. Mukul Rohatgi

Mukul Rohatgi

59, Attorney General (new)

The King's Counsel

because he is considered to be close to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He is also a part of the group of morning walkers who accompany Jaitley every day.

because he represented the Gujarat government in cases before the Supreme Court in the aftermath of the 2002 riots.

because he also served as additional solicitor general during the previous NDA regime.

Living the high life

Is fond of luxury cars and expensive watches. Presently drives a Jaguar.

8. Amitabh Kant

Amitabh Kant

58, DIPP Secretary (new)

Champion of FDI

because he shaped the 'Make in India' campaign, endearing himself to Modi. Has been the head of the Delhi- Mumbai Industrial Corridor and is a champion of 'Smart Cities'.

because he has clearly been running the industries ministry by coordinating directly with A.K. Sharma in the PMO. Follows a direct line of command from the PMO.

because he is handling the key Japan investment cell and is likely to take over major initiatives on FDI, including pushing more FDI for defence.

High table

Had a one-on-one conversation with the Prime Minister throughout the return flight from Japan.

9. Anil Swarup

Anil Swarup

56, Coal Secretary(new)

Project Facilitator

because as the head of the special Project Management Group (PMG) in the Cabinet Secretariat, he facilitated the clearance of various government and private projects from June 2013 to October 2014.

because at the PMG, he created the first file-less government department, striving towards complete transparency.

because his proposal to increase the ambit of the PMG to facilitate the clearance of projects worth Rs 100 crore was accepted by the Modi Government. He was subsequently promoted as secretary in the all-important coal ministry.

String theory

Unwinds by playing The Beatles' songs on the guitar.

10 R.K. Mathur

R.K. Mathur

61, Defence Secretary (new)

Solid in Defence

because he made a smooth transition to the new Government on the back of his good track record within the defence ministry. Brought into the job by A.K. Antony, he became indispensable to the new Government, virtually handling the ministry alone as Jaitley shuttled between North and South Block for five months.

because for a month when Jaitley was indisposed due to bad health, he worked overtime and had the virtual last word on day-to-day decisions- a huge burden given the ministry's size.